POWDERED EGGSHELL - A PILOT-STUDY ON A NEW BONE SUBSTITUTE FOR USE INMAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

The present study is a preliminary report on the use of hen's eggshell as a possible bone substitute. In the first part of the study, partic les ranging from 400 mu m to 600 mu m in diameter were bioassayed in a n intramuscular pouch in rodents. This material was found to be biocom patible, but appeared not to have osteoinductive capacities. In the se cond and third part of the study, this material was used as an interpo sitional graft material in critical-size defects of rat mandibles and rabbit skulls. At 2 months, a morphologic restoration was obtained usi ng the graft, but the healing was only achieved by fibrous union, In t he fourth part of the study, the material was experimented on as an on lay bone graft on rabbit mandibles. A 6-month follow-up of the implant confirmed its stability. In conclusion, the use of this safe and inex pensive material is suggested for filling limited bone defects in non- weight-bearing areas. The use of eggshell powder for bone augmentation may also be considered, after further studies, to assess its long-ter m stability.